Saturday, 17 September 2022, on the Feast-Day of St. Dionisie, Bishop of Cetatea Alba and Ismail, numerous pilgrims arrived to St. George Monastery in Suruceni, to participate in the Divine Liturgy officiated by His Eminence Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chisinau and all Moldova.
Mother Epistimia (Goncearenco), the Superior Nun of the Monastery, together with the monastic inhabitants and numerous pilgrims, greeted His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir and the clergy arrived at the feast. Concelebrating to Metropolitan Vladimir were Archbishop Sava of Tiraspol and Dubasari, Archbishop Nicodim of Edinet and Briceni, Bishop Ioan of Soroca – Metropolitan Vicar, and Bishop Siluan of Orhei – Metropolitan Vicar. Numerous priests and deacons assisted the hierarchs during the Divine Liturgy.
The liturgical responses during the service were provided by the Monastery’s choir.
During the Small Entrance of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Vladimir decorated Hegumeness Epistimia (Goncearenco), Superior Nun of the Monastery, with the Order of Holy Hierarch Dionisie, Bishop of Cetatea Alba-Ismail, in sign of high appreciation of prolific activity in the service of the Church.
The arch-pastor officiated two ordinations during the Litrugy: deacon Arcadie Nemtelea was ordained priest, and subdeacon Valeriu Spivacenco was ordained deacon.
Thanks-giving service was officiated after the Liturgy at the relics of St. Dionisie.
Greeting the liturgical community after the Divine Service, Metropolitan Vladimir spoke about the life of St. Dionisie, mentioning his self-sacrifice and input to the enlightening of the Christians during very hard times between the two World Wars.
Mother Epistimia thanked the hierarchs and clergy for the prayers and participation in the celebration, mentioning that Holy Hierarch Dionisie is pillar of faith and a model of holiness and love of his own people that is worth to be followed.
Holy Hierarch Dionisie, Pray to God for us!
Synodal Sector of Institutional Communication and Mass-Media Relations,